Six Hunters Review Crown X Ranch In Texas and Magnum Guide Service

Published: May - 2010

Our coverage on the Crown X Ranch in Texas recently has knocked loose a flurry of reports on the place and on Magnum Guide Service. The first is from subscriber Lew Miller who hunted the Crown X this past January with Jim Roche of Magnum Guide Service. He hunted eland and took what he says is a huge 7½-year-old bull that Roche had seen numerous times but always high on a mountain where it was too difficult to reach and pack out.

"Jim explained what to expect and detailed several top bulls he had seen during other hunts. Our morning was spent viewing many types of animals and two or three good eland bulls. After a lengthy stalk, I dropped my bull at 140 yards running on my fourth hit. Jim has the experience and ethics to ensure a true quality hunt with careful assessment of the trophy quality. It takes special skill to retrieve and take care of an animal this large; he keeps a walk-in freezer and cooler on site. The Crown X is an expansive ranch managed for the sustainability of all its animals. It is an experience and a privilege to be on it."

The second report is from Greg Smith, who says he and his wife hunted aoudad with Roche several years ago on the Crown X. He reports taking a 32-inch ram with 12½-inch bases and says his wife took a 30-incher with 14¾-inch bases.

"I realize this is a dated report, but after reading the articles the past two months in The Hunting Report, I thought I would submit it. This was our second hunt with Magnum Guide Service. Our first hunt (for New Mexico pronghorn) was also a very good experience. When we hunted with Roche in 2006, we were the first hunters on the Crown X in 25 years, and this was Jim's first trip on the ranch. He told us straight up prior to the hunt that he had not visited the ranch yet, but had seen pictures, and it looked very promising. He cautioned........(continued)